Instructor with student pilot allows a simulated engine out approach to get too low on night flight.

Attributes
ACN	311541
Time
Date	199507
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : i17
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	311541
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I pulled the throttle to the idle position to simulate an engine failure across from the touchdown point on downwind for runway 26 at piqua (I17). The student failed to maintain best glide speed and hesitated to turn directly toward the landing threshold. This combination caused the approach path to be much lower than I would have liked to see as we neared the runway threshold. Since this was a night flight and I thereby was unable to clearly see obstructions, I asked the student to initiate a go around. Once again, the student hesitated to execute the procedure until we were approximately 1200 ft MSL (200 ft AGL) slightly to the left of the runway 26 centerline and slightly short for the threshold. This position made me feel very uncomfortable, and in the future I will not allow a student to descend below what I feel is a reasonable and safe glide path for the runway in use. Nor will I hesitate to seize control of a deteriorating situation. When it comes right down to it, if the situation doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Next time, I'll listen to those feelings and recover sooner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR WITH STUDENT PLT ALLOWS A SIMULATED ENG OUT APCH TO GET TOO LOW ON NIGHT FLT.

Narrative: I PULLED THE THROTTLE TO THE IDLE POS TO SIMULATE AN ENG FAILURE ACROSS FROM THE TOUCHDOWN POINT ON DOWNWIND FOR RWY 26 AT PIQUA (I17). THE STUDENT FAILED TO MAINTAIN BEST GLIDE SPD AND HESITATED TO TURN DIRECTLY TOWARD THE LNDG THRESHOLD. THIS COMBINATION CAUSED THE APCH PATH TO BE MUCH LOWER THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE AS WE NEARED THE RWY THRESHOLD. SINCE THIS WAS A NIGHT FLT AND I THEREBY WAS UNABLE TO CLRLY SEE OBSTRUCTIONS, I ASKED THE STUDENT TO INITIATE A GAR. ONCE AGAIN, THE STUDENT HESITATED TO EXECUTE THE PROC UNTIL WE WERE APPROX 1200 FT MSL (200 FT AGL) SLIGHTLY TO THE L OF THE RWY 26 CTRLINE AND SLIGHTLY SHORT FOR THE THRESHOLD. THIS POS MADE ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, AND IN THE FUTURE I WILL NOT ALLOW A STUDENT TO DSND BELOW WHAT I FEEL IS A REASONABLE AND SAFE GLIDE PATH FOR THE RWY IN USE. NOR WILL I HESITATE TO SEIZE CTL OF A DETERIORATING SIT. WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT, IF THE SIT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, IT PROBABLY ISN'T. NEXT TIME, I'LL LISTEN TO THOSE FEELINGS AND RECOVER SOONER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.